The Times Advocate, 2005-08-31, Page 17Crossroads
Exeter Times Advocate
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
17
Local resident part of GermanyWorldYouth Day Celebration
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
MOUNT CARMEL —
Many people joined
together internationally
for the 2005 World
Youth Day celebration
that took place Sunday
Aug. 21.
World Youth Day was
founded by Pope John
Paul II and has been
regularly attended
since 1986.
Well over 700,000
people commemorated
the day at Marienfield
in Germany, just west
of Cologne.
That's where Pope
Benedict XVI went and
so did Mount Carmel
area resident Daniel
Roelands.
Marienfield is a for-
mer open -cast mining
area near Frechen in
Rhein-Erft county
belonging to the towns
of Kerpen and Frechen.
"It was
really
great,
meeting all
of the dif-
ferent peo-
ple from
around the
world,"
says Roelands.
Roelands journey
began with about 30
other people from
around Parkhill and
area.
"A bunch of us went
to the 2002 World
Youth Day Celebration
which was in Toronto,
after that a youth
group was started at
Sacred Heart Church
which is where my
cousins go, that's why I
went with everyone."
The bunch landed in
Amsterdam, beginning
their 13 day adventure.
After arriving every-
one separted in differ-
ent groups. Roelands
stayed in Bitburg with
a family for five days.
The German Dioceses
invited young people
from all over the world,
and through them by
the local parishes to
come and stay.
"We were able to do
different things there,
including some commu-
nity service," says
Roelands.One day in
particular leading up to
the celebration that
plays a special part is
Aug. 12. It is known as
the "Day of Social
Service."
Young people nation-
wide participate, work-
ing together with inter-
national guests on com-
munity projects.
After Bitburg came
Dusseldorf where
Roelands and about
7,000 others stayed in
tents. There was a fes-
tival to attend and they
also visited Cologne,
where the celebration
would take place a few
days later.
"It was really cool
being there with so
many other people,
everyone treated us
really nice," says
Roelands. "There was
also mass
and differ-
ent things
like that
which we
could par-
ticpate in."
Events
and activi-
ties in and around
Cologne lasted a whole
week, beginning on
Aug. 16 and wrapping
up Aug. 21.
World Youth Day is
not just for Catholics,
everyone is invited.
The night before
World Youth Day,
Roelands and the rest
of the pack slept
overnight in their
sleeping bags in
Marienfield.
On Sunday Pope
Benedict XVI gave a
sermon to the crowd,
another highlight
included an opening
mass.
"I really had a good
time, unfortunatly
there were a few peo-
ple leaving on stretch-
ers, I'm not exactly
sure why but I know
the front was very
crowded and there
wasn't a lot of room to
move."
"People were making
new friends
everywhere you went,
even trading t -shirts."
- DANIEL ROELANDS
When asked what his
favorite part of this
whole experience was,
Roelands says "the
friendships you make,
people were making
new friends every-
where you went, even
trading t -shirts."
In fact, Roelands has
hung on to a friend that
he met back at the
2002 World Youth Day
in T.O. Paul Mullally,
from County Kildare,
Ireland stayed with the
Roelands family for the
special event three
years ago.
Mullally was just
recently in Canada
once again visiting.
The next World Youth
Day celebration is in
Australia and it's
unknown if Roelands
will attend as of now.
"I'd definitely like to
go, this whole trip has
really made me feel
even stronger about my
religion."
Above, about 30 people get ready to leave for the World Youth Day celebration in Germany.A youth group
was started at Sacred Heart Parish after a trip to the 2002 World Youth Day celebration in Toronto.The
adventure lasted 13 days, with many events and activities leading to the World Youth Day celebration on Aug.
21 at Marienfield in Germany. Daniel Roelands is seven from the left side at the back. Below, left Kevin and
Daniel Roelands carrying Cassie Van Aert and KatieVandenbogaard at a rally in Germany. (photos/submitted)
•••••••••••••••••••
• 'S RAO
• SOO
oi)si NOW Olt.
•
• §Qt,•
• 0 GSA
•
0 T1111
•
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
•
•
•
*Dinneys will refund an amount equal to the
GST & PST on all regularly priced merchandise
I��nneys
Fine Furniture & Window Fashions
467 Main St. Exeter 235-0173
www.dinneys.com
•
•
•
•
•
•
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • i 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •